Name __________________________________________ Class ______________________________

Technical English Level 4

Progress Test 3 (Units 5-6)
Answer all the questions.
SECTION 1: VOCABULARY
1 Choose the correct option (a-d).
1 The hurricane only did ________________ damage to our hotel. We were very lucky.
a) minimal b) severe c) calamitous d) smallest
2 The building can withstand earthquakes up to a ________________ of 8.5.
a) rate b) scale c) speed d) magnitude
3 Many people voiced their ________________ about the oil spill.
a) issues b) concerns c) problems d) considerations
4 The date for completion of the project is ________________. In fact it’s in two days’ time.
a) negligible b) minimal c) imminent d) inadequate
5 If iron contains 4% of carbon or more, it is too ________________ to be used for most
applications.
a) brittle b) molten c) inert d) raw
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2 Match the synonyms (6-10) and (a-e)

6 dried out ________ a) flux

7 converted ________ b) pipe
8 substance ________ c) calcinated
9 lance ________ d) furnace
10 converter ________ e) smelted

3 Complete the sentences with a word formed from the word in capitals at the end.
11 Surface ________________, which includes booms, burning, skimming and spraying, is one
of the options used to deal with oil spills. CONTAIN
12 Another option is to set up a ________________well to reduce the pressure and stop the oil
pouring out. RELIEVE
13 Sometimes they use an ________________ device, i.e. a long tube to do down inside the
broken riser. INSERT
14 Iron and carbon are highly ________________ of electricity. CONDUCT
15 A filter is used to remove the _______________ from the mixture. PURE

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SECTION 2: LANGUAGE
4 Choose the correct option (a-d).

RECYCLING ALUMINIUM
Aluminium (16) ________ since it was first commercially produced and this (17) _________
about one-third of global aluminium usage world-wide being the recycled material. Recycling
makes sense economically, technically and ecologically (18) ________ all aluminium products
are worth something at the end of their useful lives. (19) ________ this, there are two categories
of aluminium for recycling : new and old scrap. New scrap (20) results________ the surplus
material that is discarded during the production of aluminium alloys. Whereas aluminium-
containing products that have reached the end of their useful lives (21) ________ to what is
known as old scrap. However, the scrap has to be of a certain quality before it can (22)
________ down, which (23) ________ scrap being sorted according to alloy type and content
prior to that process. For example turnings are centrifuged and dried to remove any oil and
water which is (24) ________ to be present and then it has to be magnetically separated from
any iron. Used drinks cans (25) ________ to remove the interior lacquer coating and the
printing inks on the outside. The refiners and remelters contribute significantly to the protection
of our environment. The European Standard EN 13920 on aluminium and aluminium scrap,
which covers all scrap types, (26) ________ the standard classification since 2003. This is
(27) ________quality control developments, which have been taking place for many years.
In the future, there is a (28) ________possibility that aluminium will be used in fuel-cell-
powered cars as researchers have recently discovered that it could probably be used to produce
hydrogen fuel efficiently. Innovations like these (29) ________ the demand for aluminum. By
2020 the International Aluminum Institute projects that the aluminum industry (30) ________
carbon neutral. There is no doubt that aluminium is a versatile and very important substance.
16
a) has recycled b) was recycled c) was recycling d) has been recycled
17
a) is due to b) has caused c) has resulted in d) is the result of
18
a) because b) as a result of c) The cause of d) leads to
19
a) As a result of b) The cause of c) A major factor of d) The reason for
20
a) in b) of c) to d) from
21
a) lead b) give rise c) cause d) are due

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22
a) melt b) melted c) be melted d) have been melted
23
a) leads to b) causes c) results from d) is because
24
a) possibly b) probably c) likely d) definitely
25
a) are processed b) are processing c) be processed d) process
26
a) has considered b) considering c) is considered d) has been considered
27
a) the cause of b) the result of c) a major factor d) because
28
a) highly b) strong c) very d) almost
29
a) will increase b) are increased c) will have increased d) will have been increased
30
a) has become b) will have become c) will be becoming d) is becoming
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SECTION 3: READING
5 Read the text below. In which paragraph (A-H) are the following mentioned?
31 existing transportation difficulties. ________
32 a global record ________
33 design features to limit damage to a natural resource ________
34 site for an official check-point ________
35 production centre of China ________
36 sea-faring vessels ________
37 benefits of project ________
38 unusual location for a bridge ________
39 safety measure taken into account ________
40 concern from pressure groups ________
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Hong Kong – Macau Sea Bridge

Summary of proposed project
A.The proposal is to construct a bridge that will link southern Guangdong province, China’s
main manufacturing hub, with Hong Kong and Macau. Upon completion, projected for 2016,
the bridge is expected to be the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge.
B. The scale of the proposed project is breathtaking. The structure will be one of the most
technically complicated transport projects in the history of the world. Not many bridges, for

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example, include a section that travels underwater. When finished, the structure will also be
aesthetically stunning.
C. Extending 29.6 km over the mouth of the Pearl River, the bridge will solve the problems
associated with current modes of travel between the economic powerhouses and tourist
attractions of Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macau. Driving times from Zhuhai / Macau to Hong
Kong are expected to be reduced to around 30 minutes, which includes about 15 minutes at the
expected maximum speed of 100 kph on the bridge itself.
D. The main bridge will form a technically complex bridge-cum-tunnel structure. Land will be
reclaimed in the middle of the Pearl River estuary to form two large man-made islands, each of
which will act as the terminal for a section of bridge. The islands will be connected to each
other by the tunnel section, which will allow shipping traffic to pass between the islands.
E. Once constructed, the bridge will be capable of resisting powerful typhoons, earthquakes up
to a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale, and the impact of a 300,000-tonne vessel.
F. Each of the bridge's piers will have an overall height of 170 metres. The engineering
contractors claim that any negative effect of the structure on river flows will be minimised by
limiting the size and number of columns in the water.
G. A number of environmentalists are concerned about potential risks to the local environment,
which they believe are likely to be caused by this project, although the authorities and the
contractors claim to have devised risk-reduction strategies.
H. The first stage of the project will be a land-reclamation operation to create the first of the two
islands. On completion, this island will provide the location for the customs point for people
crossing from Hong Kong to Macau.

SECTION 4: WRITING
6 Use the notes to write a summary of an investigation into an equipment malfunction at
your company’s plant. Use as many different cause and effect phrases as possible.
41 breakdown/packaging machines  poor maintenance
42 lack of staff training  mistakes made
43 breakdown 2-week plant shutdown
44 orders lost  shutdown
45 shutdown  staff laid off
46 all this  company difficulties
47 from now on/all staff/regular training
48 equipment/regularly serviced
49 By end of week/machines/repaired
50 hope/this time next year/regained position/market leader.

41
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43
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44
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45
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48
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SECTION 5: LISTENING
Track 4

7 Listen to the recording twice and complete the notes below.

WORKSHOP TITLE: Is (51) ________________ steelmaking possible?

PROBLEM REASON
(52) ________________ leaking (53) ________________
leaks not (54) ________________
(55) ________________ process (56) process is ________________
(57) ________________ filters
Poor maintenance Lack of staff training
Poor (58) ________________
Raw materials High carbon content of (59) ________________
due to poor quality (60) ________________

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